Metal feeder



Dec. 3, 1929. c. w. REAGAN METAL FEEDER Filed Feb. 8. 1926 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 .i TE.

STATES CLIFFORD W. REAGAN, OF CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS METAL FEEDER VApplication filed February 8, 1926. Serial No. .866589.

YThe invention has todo with stabilizing devices adapted to be associated with machines for feeding s-ft metals, to monotype or other type ,casting machines such asv are 8 no w in use.

Heretofore it vhas been thought impracticable Ato provide metal feeders for monotype machinesor others which `vibrateto a highdegreeduring operation. Tghe vibration inter- 10 vtenes .with the (operation of the feeding mechanism .amd permits the metaltoslip and feed into the lnetal pot more rapidly than it is \cQn s umed,- thus resulting Ain the overflow of the metal pot and a consequentinterruption .15 ofthe voperatiogn of the typecasting machine. 'I lhe metal feeding i: naehine thus ceases to be automatic in its operation as it requires Athe attentiomof theoperator fronrtime to time to .Care f0r;and.mar1.ifpul;ateth rete/0f .feed 0f mtalinto thefnot- .Ehepriniary object ofthe .invention is the provision Aofimprovements .inmachines of the classreferredto ,whereby the difiicultiesenumeratedare overcome and the metal feeding machine becomes automatic and positive in operation.

Aifurther object ol the inventionis the .provision of adevice 4which may be easily ,and economically manufactured and incorporated in metal feedingmachines now on the market to adapt them to operate successfully with monotype machines or other machines which vibrate excessively.

That the `invention mayv be better understood reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein is shown a machinesimilar to one of-the present commercial feeders with improvements incorporated therein comprisving a stabilizing device constructed after the vprinciples of my invention. It isto be understood that the drawings and specification are :presented ,for illustrative puiposcsonly, and are not intended to be construed lto limit ,thescope of the protcctionsought as the same is deinedin the appended claims.

Inthe drawings:

Fig. ldiscloscsa side elevation of the machine Vshowing a portion of an ingot of type metal, alocking catch on the side of the machine and the housing of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a view taken on `l in e 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the operating mechanism;

Fig. 3 '1s a detailed view in cross section showing the connection ofabrakeor stabilizing device .t0 .the ,driving .Shaft 0f th m- 55 chine;

Fig. 1 is a detailed View ltaken on line 4-4 of Fig.,3 showing a side yiew ofthestabilizing dev-ice referred tomaznd l i i Fig. v5 is asectional viewtaken on Athe line 60 5-5 0f Fie 2 .Showing in :detail .the means for connecting the feeder to a type casting machine. l

I shall first descrihesametal feeder 40f, c9n Ventioaelypead-thenshallexplanthe co'n- 65 struction and operation of A a preferred ,form of my invention `which incorpqratedthere- .in t0 .Pre-vent .slippage .0f ...thelfee'der du@ i0 the vibration of the machine npon itiis mounted. Y l l The metal ifndef .11S .hensedin Casing l1 and comprises .a transat Sheff .1.2 101.11-

.which isxedly mountedon the shaft 14nd- 85 jacent `the sprocket and a dog 19b which is pivotallymountedon the side ofthe `sprocket 19 so as t0 engagethe ratchet upon ymovement o f the shaft in one direction,` in this case clockwlse, and to :ride on ythe ratchet upon counterclocliwise movexnentpf the sprocket.

The feeder is driven yfrom the machine with which it is connected through means of the rod y18 in the usual manner. I The rod 18 is connected to a rocker arm 17 wh ich is loosc- 95 1y mountedon the shaft12 adjacent a ratchet gear 16, the latterheing H Xfedly secured to the shaft 12. Connection is made between the ratchetland the rocker arm by means of a dogr 18 which is pivotallyanountedon the rocker 100 arm 17. A cOil spring 18n is associated with the dog 18b to retain the same in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear.

As the rod 18 moves up and down it oscillates the rocker arm 17 so that feeding movement is transmitted through dog' 18D to the ratchet g'ear 16 during clockwise movement of the rocker arm. During counterclockwise movement of the rocker arm the dog slides over the ratchet gear teeth to the end of the stroke and again engages the teeth of the ratchet gear.

W'ith each complete stroke of the rod 18 the metal ingot 23 is advanced into the metal pot of the type casting machine. W hen the amount of metal in the potv has risen to a predetermined point feeding of the metal stopped Aby means of a float (not shown) which rides on the metal inthe pot and is hooked t-o the arm 24. The arm 24 operates a catch 2 5 which is pivotally mounted on the outer side of the casing by means of a block 26 and a cotter key 27. A weight 45 is secured to the top of said catch and is adapted to swing the lower end of same from the side wall of the casing as the Hoat rises. A latch 28' is provided in association with a weight 29 which rides upon an arm 30, the latter being positioned directly below the catch 25. The weight 29 is connected to the rocker arm 17 at the end 31 by means of arod 32. Thus when the rocker arm oscillates it raises and lowers the Weight 29 and the latch 28 on the arm 30.

The operation of the device thus far described can be briefly summarized as follows. The rod 18 is caused to move up and down by the casting machine. withwhich the feeder is associated. This movement causes the rocker arm 17 to operate the shaft 12 and at the same time to raise and lower the latch 28. The worm gear 13 transmits the n'iovement of the shaft 12 through the gear 15 to the shaft 14. The movement of the shaft 14 is transmitted to the sprocket wheel 19 through means of the ratchet 19 and the dog 19". The rotation of the sprocket wheel lowers the chain end 22 and slowly feeds the ingot of metal 23 into the metal pot. As the metal in the pot reaches the desired level, the arm 24 is raised by the float and the catch 25 is swung on its pivot 27 away from the side wall of the casing 11, thus causing it to engage the latch 28 and vStop the movement of the rocker arm 17. Positive feeding of the metal by the machine then ceases until the metal in the .pot reeedes to the point where the dropping of the float 18 causes the latch 25 to release the catch 28.

The machine as thus far described is of a common commercial type and has been found sat-isfactory when employed with linotype machines but on monotype and others where the vibration is great the weight of he ingot 23 will pull the sprocket wheel forward against the resistance of the machine even when the float in the metal pot is up and the machine is supposedly held inoperative.

This diiculty may be overcome by' the addition of improvements in the form 0f a stabilizer or brake adapted to prohibit movement of the shaft 12 except when positively operated by the machine with which the device is associated. A practical form of such a stabilizer is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and comprises a split bushing 33 which is mounted on the shaft 12 and held in place by a support 34. The support 34 comprises an arm 35 which is secured to the top of the housing 11 by means of abolt 36 which is screw threaded in a correspondingly shaped opening 37', provided in the' supporting arm. The bushing 33 is'maintained in association with the supportingarm by means of amet-al block 38'Y which v1s adapted to interfit in a slot 39 provided in the supporting arm 35. The block 39 is held in place by means of two tension bolts 40 and 41 which pass through openings provided in the block and are screw-threaded i on each Side of the split bushing 33 into the supporting arm 35.

The bushing 33 is secured by means of a set screw 43 which is threaded in the supporting arm 35 and is set in an opening provided in the bushing. An oil hole 44 is provided in the block 38 and is aligned with a port i the bushing to permit lubrication.

The tension of the bushing 33 on'th'e shaft 12 is regulated by means of the screws 40 and 41 and is adjustable-to'provide sufficient braking iniiuence on the shaft to overcome the force exerted by the ingot 23 and to permit normal operation of the feeding machine.

l claim:

1. The combination with a charge feeder for type-casting machines having feed means for regulating the feed of the charge to the melting pot and float governed regulating means for controlling operation of the feed means, of a stabilizing device effective on the feed means independently of the control means to resist feeding movement of the charge.

2. In a charging device for type-casting machines, in combination with feeding mechanism operable periodically to feed charging metal to the melting pot, control mechanism for regulating operation of the feed mechanism and governed by the height of the molten charge, and a stabilizing device effective on the feed mechanism independently of the control mechanism to prel for operating the feed mechanism to feed the charge, control means for controlling the effectiveness of the actuating means on the feed mechanism, and a stabilizing device effective on the feed mechanism independently of the actuating means and restraining the feed mechanism against operation.

4. In charge regulating apparatus for type-casting machines, in combination, feed mechanism for sustaining the Weight of the charging metal, actuating means for positively driving the feed mechanism to feed the charge, control mechanism for regulating the effectiveness of the actuating means on the feed mechanism, and a stabilizing device effective on the feed mechanism independently of the actuating means to restrain the feed mechanism against operation by the Weight of the charging metal.

5. A combination as specified in claim 4 wherein the stabilizing device is adjustable to vary its effectiveness on the feed mechamsm.

6. In a charge-feeding apparatus for typecasting machines, in combination, feed mechanism for controlling gravity feed of the charging metal, actuating means, a ratchet driving connection for transmitting motion from the actuating means to the feed mechanism, control mechanism for governing the effectiveness of the actuating means on the feed mechanism, and a stabilizing device for restraining the feed mechanism against overthrow, said stabilizing device being adjustable in its effectiveness o'n the feed mecha- IllSm.

7. In combination, a charge feeding device for type casting machines comprising a housing having a feeding mechanism and an actuating mechanism and control means for the actuating mechanism within the casing, and a stabilizing device rigidly connected with the casing and having a definiteengagement with the actuating mechanism, said stabilizing device being entirely independent of the control of the actuating mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CLIFFORD W. REAGAN. 

